Volkswagen is currently working on reimagining its famous and classic Beetle. This implies that the current owners have an opportunity to become a part of the electric revolution. The company is working in collaboration with a German firm known as eClassics for retrofitting the vintage Beetles that are already in the market so that they can run on electric power.
Volkswagen claims that it can incorporate a 36.8 kWh battery pack into a vintage Beetle. However, Volkswagen is not just adding motors and new batteries to the existing drivetrains – something is considered common in electric car conversion. Instead, the company is giving access to eClassics to the drivetrain of a new car that is not only compact but also all-electric and known as the e-up! – the exclamation mark is part of the car’s name.
The company is confident that by adding the drivetrain of e-up! to the classic Beetle – the final product is being called e-Beetle – will enhance the driving experience. The company’s press statement said, ‘Despite the new total weight of 1,280 kg, the e-Beetle accelerates to 50 km/h in just under four seconds and to 80 km in just over eight seconds. The range of the e-Beetle, which reaches top speeds of up to 150 km/h, is 200 km – a comfortable distance for a relaxing day out in an electrified classic car. In the event that the e-Beetle runs out of electricity during the trip, the built-in series-produced components allow for fast charging via a combined charging system. As a result, the e-Beetle can store enough energy for a journey of over 150 km after charging for around an hour.’
The idea is unique but not an original idea. In fact, mechanics have been playing around with drivetrains ever since they were created. In fact, cars, including the 1994 Honda Accord, have undergone the transformation to become plug-in hybrids. There is still no word on the pricing or the availability of the program that Volkswagen is offering. However, the company has said that more details will be given at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
